Cooper's early work was refined, rubbery minimal techno, following in the grand Kompakt tradition. Soon after, he began introducing delicate melodic elements, coming closer to the almost-orchestral sound he's developed today. His tracks often feature piano, chimes, gentle strings, or choral vocals — a sound palette more commonly associated with "postclassical" composers rather than techno producers. (Cooper has, in fact, worked with numerous contemporary composers whose work encroaches upon the realm of electronic music, like Ólafur Arnalds and Michael Nyman.) The result is a mix of beautifully sublime melodies and moods grounded in a driving, dynamic techno framework.
Cooper's bringing his "Emergence" live set to Public Works on Friday after debuting it at Seattle's Decibel Festival last year. More than just a "live set," it's a full audio-visual extravaganza, designed in collaboration with several visual artists — Cooper designed his own interface which allows him to control both the musical and visual aspects of the show live and on-the-fly. Taken altogether, it's designed to stimulate your brain, move your feet, and tug at your heartstrings — the total package.
And if Cooper brings you to tears on the dancefloor, fret not — Simon Baker, a producer affiliated with Swedish label Drumcode, will bring you all the way back down to earth with some hard-driving techno after his set. Locals Mossmoss and Matt Hubert open up the main room, while the Robot Ears crew hosts Berliners David Gtronic and Chad Andrew upstairs in the Loft.
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